Police Confirm Arrests of 80 Suspected Drug Dealers in Dawn Raids
Part of operation targeting gangs using teens to move drugs across 'county lines'
The raids were part of the Met's wider Operation Puglia, which is targeting dangerous criminal gangs using teenagers to move and sell drugs across 'county lines'.
Hammersmith & Fulham Police were among thousands of officers who rounded up suspected drug dealers between Monday and Wednesday last week.
Since then, 70 have been charged with a total of 296 offences, as follows:
- 268 charges of supplying a controlled drug
- 16 charges of being concerned in the supply of a controlled drug
- 6 charges of possession with intent to supply
- 4 charges of possession of a controlled drug
- 2 charges of failing to provide a sample for drug testing.
Altogether, police have linked these suspects to more than 860 local crimes – including violence, weapon offences and discharge of firearms.
As we reported last week, the raids also resulted in 18 young people, the youngest of whom was 15, being taken into custody. Police say all the teenagers were taken to the Met’s safeguarding custody facility, ancd will be offered help from the council and other community organisations. The goal is to diverting these offenders from crime in the future.
These 18 teenagers have already come to the attention of police more than 470 times in the past year – usually after being reported missing by their families.
Police say Operation Puglia is a proactive and intelligence led operation across Hammersmith and Fulham, Kensington & Chelsea and Westminster, targeting 'men of violence' and their associates who are known to be habitual knife carriers and who are involved in exploitation of vulnerable people, in response to local community concerns.
The operation took months to plan and required 2,775 officers and staff from across London. With the help of the council and local communities, the police targeted offenders believed to have a 'significant impact' in peddling drugs in H&F.
In the wake of Operation Puglia, Crimestoppers has launched a major new campaign to protect vulnerable people from being exploited by drug dealers and raise awareness of ‘county lines’ offences.
County lines refers to gangs and organised criminal networks which export illegal drugs into suburban, rural areas. The crime sees county lines gangs exploit children and vulnerable adults to move drugs and money.
The gangs move into a rural or suburban area for a short time, taking over the home of a vulnerable person (or 'cuckooing') where they set up a base.
Many of those taken advantage of by these gangs have been forced to carry out criminal activity by threats, grooming and extortion and can be described as modern day slaves.
“We know that the term ‘county lines’ might not be widely recognised, which is why we are launching this campaign and asking for your help to support us in tackling this issue," said Emily van der Lely, Crimestoppers lead on county lines.
"We need help to put a stop to this exploitation and the damage that these criminals are inflicting on our communities and those being taken advantage of."
The charity says there are several signs to look out for when someone has been lured into this activity. These include:
Change in behaviour
Signs of assault and/or malnutrition
Access to numerous phones
Use of unusual terms e.g. going country
Associating with gangs
Unexplained bus or train tickets
School truancy or going missing
Unexplained gifts (clothes, trainers) and cash
You can find out more about the campaign here.